Rick Wilkinson
OGJ Correspondent
MELBOURNE, July 23 -- Eni Australia is preparing to develop the Kitan oil discovery in the Joint Petroleum Development Area (JPDA) of the Timor Sea. The field containing the discovery could produce as much as 20,000 b/d, according to Eros Agostinelli, the company's director in Australia.
Eni intends to submit the plan to the Timor Sea Designated Authority (Australia-East Timor) by mid-2009. At this stage Eni, which is field operator, plans to produce Kitan using three subsea wells and an FPSO. There is also potential for tying in to the development two nearby smaller oil discoveries at Kuda-Tasi and Jahal.
Agostinelli says early estimates indicate that Kitan, on Block JPDA 06-105, holds 30-40 million bbl of oil reserves, although he said more studies are needed to confirm these figures.
Eni holds a 40% interest in Kitan field. Inpex of Japan has 35%, and Talisman Resources holds 25%.
Elsewhere Eni Australia's 100%-owned Blacktip gas-condensate field in the southern Bonaparte Gulf is on schedule to have first gas ashore in early 2009. Field reserves are put at 1.5 tcf, and gas will flow at a rate of 23 petajoules/year into the Australian domestic market.
